Screw on dispensing closure with structure for preventing removal

ABSTRACT

A screw on plastic dispensing closure for a container includes a closure main body that is adapted to be screwed on to a container and that has a top portion in which an orifice is defined for dispensing a substance from the container and a downwardly depending skirt portion having an inner surface on which at least one interior thread is defined for engaging threading on the container. The closure further includes a lid member that is hingedly mounted to the closure main body for movement between a first closed position in which the lid member covers the orifice and an open position wherein the orifice is uncovered by the lid member. Advantageously, retention structure is provided on the closure main body for engaging the container in such a manner as to frustrate efforts that may be made to unscrew the closure from the container after the closure has been first screwed on to the container.

This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 11/063,056, filed Feb.22, 2005, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated byreference as if set forth fully herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention generally relates to a dispensing closure of the typethat has a hinged reclosable lid that may be swung open to reveal adispensing orifice for the closure. More specifically, this inventionrelates to a dispensing closure that is provided with integral retentionstructure that resists or prevents the closure from being unscrewed froma container after it is first screwed onto the container.

2. Description of the Related Technology

Dispensing closures are in wide use for dispensing materials,particularly liquids, throughout the world. A dispensing closure issimply an article that is mountable onto a container that is designed topermit closure of an orifice of the container and, when the closure isopened, to permit material to be dispensed from the container throughthe orifice and the dispensing closure. Dispensing closures are quitecommon in the packaging of certain beverages, such as sports drinks,other flowable food material such as salad dressings as well asmaterials, such as oils and liquid detergents that are unsuitable forhuman consumption.

One type of dispensing closure that is increasingly popular is theflip-top variety, which is characterized by a main body portion that issecurable to a container and a lid portion that is hingedly mounted tothe main body portion. The main body portion typically includes adispensing orifice that is sealed by closure of the lid and uncoveredwhen the lid is opened. When a consumer desires to dispense liquid fromthis type of dispensing closure, he or she will flip the lid open andsqueeze or invert the container.

Dispensing closures are typically mounted to the container are there bysnapping the closure onto the container or screwing the closure on to athreaded finish portion of the container. With a snap-on connection,removal of the closure from the container by the consumer is effectivelydiscouraged. However, with a screw on connection, it is generallyrelatively easy for a consumer to remove the closure from the containerby unscrewing it.

A need exists for a screw on type plastic dispensing closure that isconstructed so as to be able to resist or prevent removal from acontainer by a consumer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a screw on typeplastic dispensing closure that is constructed so as to be able toresist or prevent removal from a container by a consumer.

In order to achieve the above and other objects of the invention, ascrew on plastic dispensing closure for a container according to a firstaspect of the invention includes a closure main body that is adapted tobe screwed on to a container, the closure main body having a top portionin which an orifice is defined for dispensing a substance from thecontainer and a downwardly depending skirt portion having an innersurface on which at least one interior thread is defined for engagingthreading on the container; a lid member that is hingedly mounted to theclosure main body for movement between a first closed position whereinthe lid member covers the orifice and an open position wherein theorifice is uncovered by the lid member; and tamper evident lockingstructure for retaining the lid member on the closure main body untilthe closure is first opened by the consumer.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a container assemblyincludes a container having a threaded finish portion; and a closure,the closure including a closure main body having a top portion in whichan orifice is defined for dispensing a substance from the container anda downwardly depending skirt portion having an inner surface on whichthe internal threading is defined, the internal threading being screwedon to the threaded finish portion of the container; a lid member that ishingedly mounted to the closure main body for movement between a firstclosed position wherein the lid member covers the orifice and an openposition wherein the orifice is uncovered by the lid member; and tamperevident locking structure for retaining the lid member on the closuremain body until the closure is first opened by the consumer.

These and various other advantages and features of novelty thatcharacterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in theclaims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a betterunderstanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtainedby its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form afurther part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, inwhich there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container assembly that isconstructed according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the container assembly shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a third perspective view of the container assembly shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the container according to the firstembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the container according to the secondembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the container assembly according to thesecond embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is another perspective view of the container assembly accordingto the second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designatecorresponding structure throughout the views, and referring inparticular to FIG. 1, a container assembly 10 according to a firstpreferred embodiment of the invention includes a closure 12 and acontainer 14, which is best shown in FIG. 4. As is shown in FIG. 4,container 14 includes a main body portion 16, an upstanding generallycylindrical finish portion 18 having at least one external thread 20thereon and an outwardly extending annular transfer ring 22 that ispositioned adjacent to the finish portion 18. Although the term transferring is generally used specific to plastic containers that are formedfrom a preform by blowmolding, such as those that are generallyfabricated from polyethylene terephthalate, it is to be understood thatthe term transfer ring as it is being used herein could refer to anystructure that is functionally equivalent to the transfer ringsdescribed herein with respect to the invention as it is disclosed,including structure on containers that are not formed by using apreform.

Referring again to FIG. 4, transfer ring 22 includes a slightly taperedupper surface 24, a tapered lower surface 26 and an outer surface 28that forms the outer periphery of the transfer ring 22. A radiusedtransition surface 30 connects the slightly tapered upper surface 24 andthe outer surface 28, for reasons that will be described in greaterdetail below. According to one particularly advantageous feature of thisembodiment of the invention, a pair of generally longitudinallyextending notches, only one of which is shown in FIG. 4, are defined inthe transfer ring 22. Each notch 32 includes a first side stop surface34, a second side stop surface 36 and a bottom surface 38 that definesthe bottom of the notch 32. The first and second side stop surfaces 34,36 are preferably located in planes that are substantially radial to thecentral axis of the generally cylindrical finish portion 18.

Referring again to FIG. 1, closure 12 preferably includes a main bodyportion 40 that is constructed and arranged to be screwed onto thethreaded finish portion 18 of the container 14. Main body portion 40includes a top portion or deck 42 in which a dispensing orifice 44 isdefined within a dispensing spout 46 for dispensing a substance from thecontainer 14 when the dispensing closure 12 is in the open positionshown in FIG. 1. Main body portion 40 further includes a downwardlydepending skirt portion 48, and a lid member 50 having an integralinternal seal member 54. Lid member 50 is hingedly mounted to the mainbody portion 40 by a hinge member 52 for movement between a first closedposition wherein the internal plug 54 covers the dispensing orifice 44and an open position wherein the dispensing orifice 44 is uncovered bythe internal plug 54 and the lid member 50.

In the illustrated embodiment, closure 12 further has tamper evidentlocking structure 56, which includes a removable tamper evident band 58that is frangibly mounted to the main body portion 40 by a number ofintegrally molded frangible bridges. Lid member 50 includes a pair oflocking teeth 61 that engage the removable tamper evident band 58 whenthe closure is closed during the manufacturing process. In order toremove the tamper-evident band 58 to open the closure 12, a consumerwill grasp a pull tab 60 in order to tear the removable tamper evidentband 58 away from the main body portion 40 by fracturing the frangiblebridges.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the downwardly dependingskirt portion 48 has an inner surface 62 on which at least one raisedinternal thread 64 is defined. According to one particularlyadvantageous feature of the invention, retention structure 66 isprovided on the closure 12 that will engage with the container 14 insuch a manner as to frustrate efforts that may be made by the consumeror by potential wrongdoers to remove the closure 12 from the container14. In this first embodiment of the invention, retention structure 66 isembodied as a pair of inwardly extending projections 68, each of whichis unitary with the inner surface 62 of the skirt portion 48 of the mainbody portion 40 of the closure 12. Each inwardly extending projection 68is oriented substantially as to be generally parallel with alongitudinal axis of the substantially cylindrical skirt portion 48 ofthe closure 12, and includes first and second lateral engagementsurfaces 70 and a tapered lower end 72. Tapered lower end 72 ispreferably given a convex radius, but it could alternatively beconfigured as a linear taper. FIG. 3 provides an alternative view of theunderside of the closure 12 and illustrates the second inwardlyextending projection 68. The two inwardly extending projection 68 arepreferably diametrically opposed from each other, corresponding to thediametrical opposition of the notches 32 that are defined in thetransfer ring 22 of the container 14.

When the closure 12 is being screwed on to the container 14 during thepackaging process, the inwardly extending projections 68 will as theclosure 12 is nearly fully screwed on to the container 14 begin tocontact the upper surface 24 of the transfer ring 22, with the taperedlower end 72 of the inwardly extending projections 68 camming againstthe upper surface 24 and eventually the radiused transition surface 30of the transfer ring 22. This will cause a temporary distortion of thegenerally cylindrical shape of the skirt portion 48 as the inwardlyextending projections 68 ride on the outside of the transfer ring 22. Atthe point at which the closure 12 is fully screwed onto the container14, the inwardly extending projections 68 will become seated within thenotches 32 that are defined within the transfer ring 22. When thishappens, skirt portion 48 will reassume its cylindrical shape, with theelasticity of the skirt portion 48 biasing the inwardly extendingprojections 68 to remain seated within the notches 32. If an effort ismade by the consumer or a potential wrongdoer to unscrew the closure 12from the container 14, the lateral engagement surface 70 of the inwardlyextending projections 68 will engage the second side surface 36 of thenotch 32, thereby impeding or preventing unscrewing of the closure 12from the container 14.

A container assembly 78 that is constructed according to a secondembodiment of the invention is depicted in FIGS. 5-7. A container 74according to the second embodiment of the invention is identical to thecontainer described above with reference to the first embodiment of theinvention, except that the transfer ring 76 has no notch or otherirregularity defined therein. Referring to FIG. 6, a closure 79according to the second embodiment of the invention is identical to theclosure described above with reference to the first embodiment exceptwith regard to the retention structure for engaging with the containerin such a manner to frustrate efforts that may be made to unscrew theclosure from the container.

Closure 79 includes retention structure 80 that is constructed andarranged to engage the lower surface 26 or the underside of the transferring 76. In the illustrated embodiment, retention structure 80 isembodied as a plurality of lug members 82, each of which extendsinwardly from the inner surface 62 of the downwardly depending skirtportion 48 of the closure 79. The lug members 82 are constructed andarranged to slip over the generally annular transfer ring 76 when theclosure 79 is being screwed onto to the container 74 at the packagingfacility. In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of lug members 82are utilized. It should be understood, however, that fewer or more lugmembers could be used according to the invention, including one lidmember that would effectively be an annular ring about the innerperiphery of the skirt portion 48 of the closure 79.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerouscharacteristics and advantages of the present invention have been setforth in the foregoing description, together with details of thestructure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrativeonly, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape,size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention tothe full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms inwhich the appended claims are expressed.

1. A screw on plastic dispensing closure for a container, comprising: aclosure main body that is adapted to be screwed on to a container, saidclosure main body having a top portion in which an orifice is definedfor dispensing a substance from the container and a downwardly dependingskirt portion having an inner surface on which at least one interiorthread is defined for engaging threading on the container; a lid memberthat is hingedly mounted to said closure main body for movement betweena first closed position wherein said lid member covers said orifice andan open position wherein said orifice is uncovered by said lid member;and tamper evident locking structure for retaining said lid member onsaid closure main body until the closure is first opened by theconsumer.
 2. A screw on plastic dispensing closure for a containeraccording to claim 1, wherein said tamper evident locking structurecomprises a tamper evident band that is removably mounted to said mainbody, and locking means on said lid for engaging said tamper evidentband.
 3. A screw on plastic dispensing closure for a container accordingto claim 2, wherein said tamper evident band is frangibly mounted tosaid main body.
 4. A screw on plastic dispensing closure for a containeraccording to claim 3, wherein said tamper evident band is frangiblymounted to said main body by a plurality of frangible bridges.
 5. Ascrew on plastic dispensing closure for a container according to claim2, wherein said tamper evident band comprises a gripping tab.
 6. A screwon plastic dispensing closure for a container according to claim 2,wherein said locking means is constructed and arranged to contact alower surface of said tamper evident band.
 7. A screw on plasticdispensing closure for a container according to claim 2, wherein saidlocking means comprises at least one locking tooth for engaging saidtamper evident band.
 8. A screw on plastic dispensing closure for acontainer according to claim 2, wherein said locking means comprises aplurality of said locking teeth.
 9. A screw on plastic dispensingclosure for a container according to claim 2, wherein said tamperevident band is integrally molded with said closure main body and saidlid member.
 10. A screw on plastic dispensing closure according to claim1, wherein said closure is fabricated from a polypropylene material. 11.A container assembly, comprising: a container having a threaded finishportion; and a closure, said closure comprising a closure main bodyhaving a top portion in which an orifice is defined for dispensing asubstance from the container and a downwardly depending skirt portionhaving an inner surface on which said internal threading is defined,said internal threading being screwed on to said threaded finish portionof said container; a lid member that is hingedly mounted to said closuremain body for movement between a first closed position wherein said lidmember covers said orifice and an open position wherein said orifice isuncovered by said lid member; and tamper evident locking structure forretaining said lid member on said closure main body until the closure isfirst opened by the consumer.
 12. A container assembly according toclaim 11, wherein said tamper evident locking structure comprises atamper evident band that is removably mounted to said main body, andlocking means on said lid for engaging said tamper evident band.
 13. Acontainer assembly according to claim 12, wherein said tamper evidentband is frangibly mounted to said main body.
 14. A container assemblyaccording to claim 13, wherein said tamper evident band is frangiblymounted to said main body by a plurality of frangible bridges.
 15. Acontainer assembly according to claim 12, wherein said tamper evidentband comprises a gripping tab.
 16. A container assembly according toclaim 12, wherein said locking means is constructed and arranged tocontact a lower surface of said tamper evident band.
 17. A containerassembly according to claim 12, wherein said locking means comprises atleast one locking tooth for engaging said tamper evident band.
 18. Acontainer assembly according to claim 12, wherein said locking meanscomprises a plurality of said locking teeth.
 19. A container assemblyaccording to claim 12, wherein said tamper evident band is integrallymolded with said closure main body and said lid member.
 20. A containerassembly according to claim 1, wherein said closure is fabricated from apolypropylene material.